Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, 22884 [2014-09429]

Download as PDF 22884 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 80 / Friday, April 25, 2014 / Rules and Regulations These measures are exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility Act because the temporary rule is issued without opportunity for prior notice and comment. This action responds to the best scientific information available. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this temporary rule because such procedures are unnecessary and is contrary to the public interest. Prior notice and the opportunity to comment is unnecessary because the final rule for Amendment 37 to the FMP (78 FR 27084, May 9, 2013) implemented AMs which state that NMFS will file a notification with the Office of the Federal Register to reduce the recreational ACT and the recreational ACL by the amount of any recreational ACL overage in the prior year and to close the recreational sector for Gulf gray triggerfish for the remainder of the fishing year if recreational landings reach or are projected to reach the recreational ACT. Such procedures would be unnecessary because the rule itself has been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the reduced recreational fishing season for gray triggerfish. Allowing prior notice and opportunity for public comment is contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement this action to protect the gray triggerfish resource. Any delay in the closure of the recreational sector could result in the adjusted recreational ACL for gray triggerfish being further exceeded, which, in turn, would further reduce the recreational ACL and ACT for gray triggerfish in 2015. For the aforementioned reasons, the Assistant Administrator, NMFS, also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 22, 2014. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–09402 Filed 4–24–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:58 Apr 24, 2014 Jkt 232001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 131021878–4158–02] RIN 0648–XD260 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2014 Greenland turbot initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 1, 2014, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2014. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907–586–7269. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. The 2014 Greenland turbot ITAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI is 395 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014). In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i) and (d)(1)(ii)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 2014 Greenland turbot ITAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI will be needed as incidental catch to support other groundfish fisheries. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 0 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 395 mt as incidental catch. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip. Classification This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and would delay the directed fishing closure of Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became available as of April 21, 2014. The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public comment. This action is required by § 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 22, 2014. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–09429 Filed 4–24–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\25APR1.SGM 25APR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 22884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09429]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 131021878-4158-02]
RIN 0648-XD260


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland 
Turbot in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands Management Area

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in 
the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the 2014 Greenland turbot initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the 
Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 1, 2014, 
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the 
North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations 
governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at 
subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The 2014 Greenland turbot ITAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of 
the BSAI is 395 metric tons (mt) as established by the final 2014 and 
2015 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (79 FR 12108, 
March 4, 2014). In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i) and 
(d)(1)(ii)(B), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined 
that the 2014 Greenland turbot ITAC in the Aleutian Islands subarea of 
the BSAI will be needed as incidental catch to support other groundfish 
fisheries. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 0 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 
395 mt as incidental catch. In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), 
the Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance 
has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing 
for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.
    After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable 
amounts at Sec.  679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior 
notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set 
forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from 
responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and 
would delay the directed fishing closure of Greenland turbot in the 
Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a 
notice providing time for public comment because the most recent, 
relevant data only became available as of April 21, 2014.
    The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the 
effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is 
based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 22, 2014.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-09429 Filed 4-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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